Letter-width-spacing mechanism in typewriters



Nov. 6, 1923. 1,472,825

- T. E. BUSCHMANN LETTER WIDTH SPACING MECHANISM IN TYPEWRITERS Filed March 23, 1921 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 layer 5 .Buscb/mm Nov. 6

T. E. BUSCHMANN LETTER WIDTH SPACING MECHANISM IN TYPEWRITERS Filed March 23. 1921 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 m 6pm TE mall/mum Patented Nov. 6, 1923.

UNHTEE STATES PATENT QFFHE.

THEODOR EUGEN BUSCHMANN, OF CHEMNITZ-KAPPEL, GERMANY, ASSIGNOB TO WANDERER-WERKE VORM. WINKLHOFER & JAENIGKE AKTIENGESELLSCHAFT, OF SCHONAU, NEAR CHEMNITZ, GERMANY.

Application filed March 23, 1921.

Serial No. 454,945.

(GRANTED UNDER THE PROVISIONS OF THE ACT OF MARCH 3, 1921, 41 STAT. L, 1313.)

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, THEODOR EUGEN BUSCHMANN, a citizen of the realm of Germany, and residing at Haydnstrasse 9,

Chemnitz-Kappel, Germany, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in and Relating to Letter-\Vidth-Spacing Mechanism in Typewriters (for which I have filed application in Germany Oct. 2, 1914, Patent No. 292,338), of which the following is a specification.

There exist alphabets, especially oriental alphabets, in which the characters cannot all be brought within one and the same width,

as is the case with the letters of ordinary typewriters. In typewriters for such languages or alphabet it is necessary to adapt the carriage feed for letter width spacing to the various widths of the type characters, so

that for instance on striking certain types the paper carriage will be advanced two widths of a letter.

Typewriters are known wherein the paper carriage is moved twice the width-of a letter by triking certain type keys. For producin either single letter width spacing or double letter width spacing as required, two space bars have been provided, of which one serves to produce the usual paper feed spac- 80 in and raising of the ribbon, whereas the other space bar efiects the double letter width spacing.

These space bars have been arranged hitherto in such a manner that they are both 85 moved simultaneously namely, they either lie both under the key levers or are both situated in front of the key levers. The double width 5 acing must however already be set before t e paper carriage is released by the to ordinary spacing machanism, because asalready proposed for the purpose of effecting the double width spacing, a part of the ordi nary spacing mechanism, namely, the known movable spacing pawl is set in such a manes ner that the paper carriage can advance two widths of a letter at once. This setting must be completed before the spacing mechanism allows the paper carriage to advance or releases it. Hitherto this result has been eilected by a special construction of the roddin employed for transmitting the motion of the space bars.

The present invention solves this roblem in a simple manner by arranging t e space bar for the ordinary paper carriage feed within the range of movement of the type bars, and arranging the space bar for the.

double width spacing under the key levers, so that the space bar that actuates the spacing mechanism is operated directly by the type bars, whereas the space bar for setting the spacing mechanism for double Width spacing is actuated directly by the key levers. It is obvious that in such a case the double-space bar is moved sooner than the ordinary space bar, so that there is no need for a special construction of the rodding for transmitting the motion of the space bars.

The double-space bar is arranged preferably at such a distance below the key levers that these levers cannot touch it when they are depressed. On the contrary all the key levers whose types require a double width spacing, must be provided on their underside with a small extension by means of which when they are struck, they will reach and depress the space bar. This aifords a further advantage. The oriental languages for which tvpewriters according to the present invention are mainly designed, comprise numerous dialects whose differences are also expressed in writing. The arrangement of the double-space bar under the key levers has also the result that in existing typewriters it is possible to vary at will or otherwise select the keys for double width spacing, because it only requires for this purpose to add an extension to or remove it from the key levers.

A constructional example of the subject matter of this invention is illustrated by way of example in the accompanying drawings in which Figure 1 is a side elevation in the rest position of a typewriter provided with the improved paper carriage letter width spacing mechanism.

Figures 2, 3 and 4 showvarious working positions of the spacing pawl.

The paper carriage is driven in the usual manner by means of a spring, and for the purpose of regulating the letter width spacing, it actuates the ratchet wheel 1 whichcooperates in the usual manner with the rocking feed device mounted underneath it. On one side of the body 2 of the feed device there is fixed a stationary feed tooth 3, whereas on the other side there is provided a feed member 7 which can rock on the screw 4, and furnished with a feed tooth 6 and catch tooth 5. With a downward extension 8 of the feed member 7 there engages a spring 9 that h-as a tendency to cause the feed member 7, or its feed tooth 6, to swing to the right in a clockwise direction. The screw 10 serving for fixing the fixed feed tooth 3, embraces with its head the feed member 7 for guiding purposes, and serves also as a Stop for the left hand movement of the loose feed tooth 6.

On the same side as the feed device there is arranged further, a lever 12-13 which is fulcrumed on the screw 11 and which determines the angle of the swing of the loose feed tooth 6. This lever 12-13 carries on the lower part of its arm 13 a pin 16 which projects into a recess 15 in the body 2 of the feed device, and serves to determine the movement of the lever 12-13 in each direction. On this pin there engages a spring 14 which is fixed at one end to thebody 2 of the feed device, and which pulls the lower arm 13 of the lever 12-13 to the right (Figures 2 to 4:). The upper arm 12 of this lever is formed with a lateral pin 17 that carries an antifriction roller 18. The lever 12--13 and the feed member 7-8 are situated and moved in one and the same plane, so that in feeding, the lower extension 8 of the feed member 7 strikes the lower arm 13 of the lever 12-13, thereby determining the extent of the swing of the feed member 7 or of its feed tooth 6.

When the lever 12-13 is in its rest position (Figures 2 and 3), the feed member 7 can swing out only to such an extent that the paper carriage can advance by the width of one letter.

In order to increase the stroke of the loose feed tooth 6 to a double advance of the paper carriage or to a double width of a letter, a space bar 30 is arranged under the key le-- vers. This space bar is carried by a number of arms 26 that are fixed on an axle 25. The axle 25 is pivoted at both ends on screw centres. All the key levers that correspond to type characters of larger spacing, carry underneath each a plate 31 by means of which they can depress the space bar 30. A rod 28, 27 transmits this motion to a lever 21-22 fulcrumed at 20. The arm 22 of this lever is formed with a bend 19 by which the antifriction roller 18 can be raised. The arm 21 of the lever 21-22 is formed with an extension 23 which can bear upon the pin 2 1 and thereby limits the stroke of the lever (Figure 1). The rod 27, 28 consists of two parts connected together by a spring in order that the antifriction roller 18 shall come into 110-.

sition immediately at the commencement of the rising movement, and allow of a free and further movement of the space bar 30, even when the stop 241 has limited the swing of the lever 21-22. In the type'bar segment 32 there is mounted in the usual manner the space bar 33 which is actuated by each type bar, and has arm-like extensions 34 to which are pivoted the supporting arms 36 that are fixed on the rotary axle 35. On one supporting arm there is provided a luglike extension 37 which bears against the feed device and actuates the same.

When it is desired to write permanently with the larger letter width spacing, this is done by keeping the space bar 30 in its lowest position. The space bar is locked by reversing the crank 38. v

The operation of the invention is as follows:-

If in a group of characters a wide character is struck, and therefore it is necessary that the paper carriage should move with a larger spacing, then in striking the key lever, the space bar 30 is depressed by means of the extension 31, and thereby the rod 28, 27 situated on the arm 26, is drawn down together with the lever 21-22, until the extension 23 bears upon the stop pin 24. The roller 18 lying on the bend of the arm 22, is raised (Figure 3) with rocking of the lever 12-13, so that the lower arm 13 of the lever 12-13 is swung to the left. The motion of the type bar universal bar 33 swings out the feed device, whereby the loose feed tooth 6 comes out of engagement with the ratchet wheel 1, and is caused by the pull of the spring 9, to shoot forwards until it bears with its lower extension 8 against the end 13 of the lever. On the return of the feed device, the fixed feed tooth 3, which has in the meanwhile held the ratchet wheel 1 fast, releases the latter, whereupon the catch tooth 5 of the feed member 7 comes into engagement with the ratchet wheel teeth, and the feed mem-- her 7 is returned into its initial position. In this movement, as will be perceived from Figure 3, the paper carriage is caused to advance through the distance of two ratchet teeth. The anti-friction roller 18 together with the lever 12-13 returns likewise into constructed for producing double width spacing.

Having now described my invention, what I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent is 1 different amounts for single and double letter-width spacing respectively, a universal bar to be operated by the type bars for actuating the said mechanism and a universal bar to be operated by the key levers of the double width letters and means interposed between the latter universal bar and the said movable pawl for allowing the rocking angle of the latter to be varied to the amount required for double letter spacing, as set forth. In testimony. whereof I have signed my name to this specification.

THEODOR EUGEN BUSC. Witnesses:

OSCAR HOFMLANN, Gnome GABLER. 

